Isaiah 22
:8

Isaiah 22 :8
Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And he discovered the covering of Judah, and you did look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And he discovered the covering of Judah, and you did look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And he took away the covering of Judah; and thou didst look in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

He took away the cover of Judah; and in that day you were looking with care at the store of arms in the house of the woods.

Webster's Revision

And he uncovered the coverings of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest.

World English Bible

He took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.

English Revised Version (ERV)

And he took away the covering of Judah; and thou didst look in that day to the armour in the house of the forest.

Definitions for Isaiah 22
:8

Clarke's Commentary
on Isaiah 22 :8

The armor "The arsenal" - Built by Solomon within the city, and called the house of the forest of Lebanon; probably from the great quantity of cedar from Lebanon which was employed in the building. See 1 Kings 7:2, 1 Kings 7:3.

Barnes's Commentary
on Isaiah 22 :8

And he discovered - Hebrew, ויגל vayegal - 'He made naked, or bare.' The expression, 'He discovered,' means simply that it "was" uncovered, without designating the agent.

The covering of Judah - The word used here (מסך mâsak) denotes properly "a covering," and is applied to the "curtain" or veil that was before the tabernacle Exodus 26:36; Exodus 39:38; and to the curtain that was before the gate of the court Exodus 35:17; Exodus 39:40. The Septuagint understands it of the "gates" of Judah, 'They revealed the gates (τὰς πύλας tas pulas) of Judah.' Many have understood it of the defenses, ramparts, or fortifications of Judah, meaning that they were laid open to public view, that is, were demolished. But the more probable meaning, perhaps, is, that the invading army exposed Judah to every kind of reproach; stripped off everything that was designed to be ornamental in the land; and thus, by the figure of exposing one to reproach and shame by stripping off all his clothes, exposed Judah in every part to reproach. Sennacherib actually came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them and dismantled them 2 Kings 18:13; Isaiah 36:1. The land was thus laid bare, and unprotected.

And thou didst look - Thou Judah; or the king of Judah. Thou didst cast thine eyes to that armory as the last resort, and as the only hope of defense.

To the armor - Or rather, perhaps, the "armory, the arsenal" (נשׁק nesheq). The Septuagint renders it, 'To the choice houses of the city' (compare Nehemiah 3:19).

Of the house of the forest - This was built within the city, and was called the house of the forest of Lebanon, probably from the great quantity of cedar from Lebanon which was employed in building it 1 Kings 7:2-8. In this house, Solomon laid up large quantities of munitions of war 1 Kings 10:16-17; and this vast storehouse was now the principal reliance of Hezekiah against the invading forces of Sennacherib.

Wesley's Commentary
on Isaiah 22 :8

22:8 He - The enemy. Covering - He took those fenced cities, which were a covering or safe - guard both to the people of Judah, and to Jerusalem. The armour - Thy trust was placed in the arm of flesh. The forest - More fully called the house of the forest of Lebanon, 1Kings 7:2, not because it was built in Lebanon, for it was in Jerusalem; but because it was built of the trees of Lebanon.